Why does GOD hate homosexuality?
Someone says, "Wait a minute, Tim. You're saying GOD hates homosexuality? That's a pretty bold and harsh statement."
This response sheds light on the very heart of the matter.
As we've already noted, the Scriptures plainly call out homosexual behavior as sin. But popular culture doesn't like being told that their views and/or certain behaviors are sinful—that there's anything "wrong" with what they're doing. We've become increasingly intolerant of anyone questioning or rebuking our thinking or behavior.
But which really matters:
- the popular opinion of society, or ...
- the opinion of the Almighty Creator, Sustainer and Judge of us all?
When Christians call out homosexuality today as being sinful, it's often viewed as intolerance, hatred or "hate speech" as though it is aimed at the person rather than the behavior.
While this may be true of some who claim the name of Christian, for a true Christian, nothing could be further from the truth.
First of all, a genuine Christian's motive for calling out sin is love—to warn the person of the dangers in pursuing sin, the judgment we will each face after death, and the fragile and uncertain nature of life.
In doing this, the Christian isn't judging the person, they're merely repeating what GOD has already said.
You see, it is GOD who has told us He hates "a heart that devises wicked schemes" and "feet that are quick to rush into evil" (see Prov. 6:16-19).
GOD, not man, defines what is righteous and what is evil.
Practical wisdom can be clearly seen in virtually every command GOD has given us, and Scripture says GOD's commandments are "not burdensome" (see 1 John 5:3), but "for our good always" (see Deut. 6:24).
GOD gives us instructions for the purpose of blessing us, not robbing us of fun or happiness. Humans are simply unable to clearly foresee the future impacts of our decisions and, at times, too weak to choose right even when the choice is obvious.
Think about it: Never, ever, in the history of the world, has a person faithfully obeyed GOD's commands and looked back in regret.
In an attempt to help us understand why GOD hates homosexuality (and other sins), imagine this scenario:
- You are a software engineer designing a complex robotics system which includes artificial intelligence.
- You've spent the past five years working countless hours, pouring everything you have into this project.
- You've planned this system thoroughly, designing it to function in a particular way, to behave like a human rather than a robot, to be warm, friendly and helpful.
- And yet, once you activate the robot for production use, it insists on operating in unintended ways, continuously overruling your design and making a mess of things. It bumps into people, speaks rudely, crashes into tables and spills things—all on its own, completely defiant to your design.
If this happened, how would you feel as the creator of this robot?
Would you have every right to be upset that your creation operated differently than you designed it—angry that it was making an unintended mess of the environment in which it operates?
Absolutely you would.
And the same is true of GOD with us in the real world.
GOD designed humans and all of His creation to operate in a certain way—not as robotic organisms, but as perfectly harmoniously and always in that which is best for the individual, family, society, nation and planet. And when we as His creatures choose to behave in such a way that goes against GOD's intentions, just like the fictitious robot, we make an unintended mess of things.
If anybody will stop and read the Scriptures and observe how life works, they will see that GOD wants what's best for us, that only He knows what best is, and that homosexuality—and any other sin—has unintended consequences.
Homosexuality (like fornication and adultery) can result in physical harm to the body (see Rom. 1:26-27); it feeds sinful lusts which harm us mentally and leads to many other societal problems as with Sodom and Gomorrah (see Gen. 18-19); and it most definitely negatively impacts families. Who will procreate and bear children in a world where everyone is lusting after their own sex?
As I continue to study the Scriptures, I am increasingly impressed by GOD's practicality. He purposely gives us commands for very specific reasons.